*Though the time of the births of Japheth and Shem is no where exprefsly mentioned, yet it is plainly enough to be inferred from the above-cited texts. For, Gen. xi. 10. we are told, that Shem was an hundred years old-two years after the flood, which answers to the fix hundred and fecond year of Noah, inafmuch as the text exprefsly fays, that Noah was fix hundred years old, when the flood was upon the earth, Gen. vii. 6. Wherefore the hundredth year of Shem's age anfwering to the fix hundred and fecond year of his father's, it follows, that Shem must be born in the five hundred and fecond year of Noah. But now, Gen. v. 32. it is plainly infinuated, that Noah began to beget children, and confequently begot his eldeft fon in the five hundredth year of his age; which eldeft fon must be Japheth, fince Ham is exprefsly faid to be the younger fon, Gen. ix. 24. and fince Shem was not born till the five hundred and feeond year of Noah. Nahor * That Joseph was born this year is thus proved: his father Jacob was an hundred and thirty years old, when he went down into Egypt; which anfwers to A. M. 2238. Jofeph was at that time thirty-nine years old. For he was thirty years old when he was made governor of Egypt, Gen. xli. 46. After which came the feven years of plenty, Gen. xli. 53, 54. And then in the second year of famine his father came into Egypt, Gen. xlv. 11. being then, as is before observed, one hundred and thirty years old; wherefore deducting thirty-nine from one hundred and thirty, there remain ninety-one for the year of Jacob's age, wherein Jofeph was born. But Jacob being born A. M. 2108, the ninety-firft year of his age answers to A. M. 2199, which therefore is the year of the world wherein Joseph was born. |